As vehicle thefts increase, motorists are urged to get connected for a speedy recovery

As new data shows the number of vehicles stolen has risen by nearly a third in the past three years, a simple plug in device working with a smartphone app will tell a motorist the exact location of their car at any given time, aiding its speedy recovery by the Police. The Smartplug from connected car service, Smartdriverclub, slots in under the dashboard enabling a range of services, from accident assistance to stolen vehicle tracking as well as insurance.

Penny Searles, CEO of Smartdriverclub says: “The number of vehicles on the road with tracking capabilities is growing exponentially as a by-product of telematics insurance and the growth of connected cars, eliminating much of the work required by the Police in locating stolen vehicles with this technology. We know Police resource is under severe pressure, so being able to take advantage of this technology at zero cost to them, works in everyone’s interests.

“Sadly many stolen vehicles are used in other acts of crime and are usually driven at speed and without care so it is vital the car is recovered quickly. A simple piece of tech that the driver can add themselves to their car will identify the exact location of the vehicle so that we can alert the Police. It’s free to insurance customers along with services such as accident support, alerts to mechanical issues and fuel monitoring and has already aided a number of vehicle theft recoveries for our customers.

“The Government has challenged the insurance industry to use technology to de-risk driving and incentivise safer driving. Smartdriverclub has more than met this challenge. Connected technology in cars can cut accidents, support theft tracking and reduce insurance premiums. The more motorists that have tracking capabilities, the more chance we have of bringing motor insurance costs down for all.”

Smartdriverclub comprises the following services in one package:

My Mechanic – This will alert a motorist if a car problem crops up, suggest what they can do about it and find a local dealer they can talk to. This includes TAX and MOT reminders

Crash Assistance – If the customer is in a collision and Smartdriverclub can’t reach the customer on their mobile phone, they will contact the emergency services and direct them to the location.

Stolen Car – An in-car tracker activated by the customer means that if it’s stolen, the Police should know exactly where to look.

My Driving – Motorists can save money on fuel costs by seeing how efficiently their car performs on each journey with a smart driving history that helps them manage fuel use.

My Deals – Customers can save money on everything from servicing to new tyres. Just tap through the app for the latest deal from their dealership.

Value My Car – Smartdriverclub provides a valuation of the customer’s car that’s actually based on their car so that they can use this instant price for better deals and finance.

Where Did I Park? – A handy little map is provided to those that have forgotten where they parked

Business Miles – Business drivers can accurately record their business vs personal miles and download the information directly into their expense forms, confident that it is validated information for mileage claims

Club Insurance – Preferential rates for good drivers based on their driving behaviour, to ensure customers are not paying for the poor behaviour of others.